With all eight Ivy League schools admitting applicants at single-digit rates for the Class of 2029, many wonder what it takes to earn admission to these storied institutions.

Consider this your catch-all resource for Ivy Coach’s Ivy League admissions content. As the world’s leading college counseling firm for securing Ivy League admission, we know a thing or two about what magical ingredients go into securing an acceptance letter to this elusive set of eight schools.

Three Words for Ivy League Applicants: Do Your Research!

Think your legacy status or strength in a given sport is going to save you from the statistical likelihood that your Ivy League application will earn you a rejection letter? Think again. Even the most competitive applicants with perfect grades and test scores get rejected — at a rate of thousands of applicants per year!

The students who do get into the Ivy League don’t just have great grades. They don’t just have competitive test scores to submit (even to schools with test-optional policies, since students who get in know that not submitting scores is an admissions death sentence). These are a given — any student with lackluster grades or test scores will not be admitted.

But what sets apart those who get in from this pool of academic high achievers is a thorough understanding of what Ivy League admissions officers value. And this understanding can only come through thorough research into prospective schools!

Ivy Coach: Your Number One Source for Ivy League Admissions Research

To this end, we’ve compiled a list of our top blogs covering the topics you need to review to ensure you’re putting your best foot forward and making the right calls as you prepare to apply for and attend an Ivy League school.

• The singular hook forms the foundation of any competitive Ivy League application. Your singular hook is the specific way you will “act locally, think globally” by endeavoring to change your local community through your pursuit of a specific cause, pursuit, discipline, or topic. Your singular hook should be woven into every aspect of your application, from your essays to your activities list.
• If there is one thing Ivy League admissions officers avoid, it’s students who have made the mistake of presenting as well-rounded. With every spot in an incoming Ivy League class representing countless rejection letters, admissions officers are in no position to admit students who won’t take advantage of the highly specialized resources and facilities available on their respective campuses — the kind of things that only students with a singular hook will know about!
• When it comes to letters of recommendation, choose recommenders who will furnish your letter with specific anecdotes (and in the case of your school counselor, tying back to your hook). It’s crucial that your school counselor makes the case that you’ve pursued your singular hook to the best of your abilities, and the most persuasive way to do so is to cite specific instances in which you’ve demonstrated your expertise or (in the case of recommendation letters from teachers who taught non-hook related subjects), anecdotes that demonstrate the ease with which the subject came to you and your ability to play well with others in an academic setting.
• It’s for this reason that we recommend our students sometimes steer clear of English teachers, who tend to replace such specifics with gushing generalities (even if they’re well-written ones!).
• The most competitive Ivy League applicants apply to their top school’s Early Round to boost their odds of admission. And no, these students are not at an advantage because there are fewer underrepresented minority students, more legacy applicants, or more development cases in the Early Pool. Put simply, Ivy League admissions officers want to admit a highly enthusiastic class that has demonstrated their interest. Applying in the Early round is the number one way to do so.

Ivy Coach’s Assistance in Optimizing Chances to the Ivy League

To take the next step toward Ivy League admission, fill out Ivy Coach’s complimentary consultation form, and we will contact you to discuss our college counseling services and how we can support your goals. We look forward to connecting with you soon.